Velvet Scoter

3 flew west past Pen Anglas point at 12:45.

Teifi

On the river upsteam from the hospital, a female Goldeneye.
Teal numbers increasing with 150 from Creek hide.
50 Lapwing on a sandbank in the estuary and another 30+ opposite Curlew hide. Also a small flock in flooded stubble fields near Llechryd bridge with several hundred Black-headed gulls.
Little change in wader numbers around the estuary.

Lapwing

Small flock (approx 40) lapwing by the county border at Pantyblaidd.

Teifi -- pm HT

St. Dogmael's Quay, 1 ad Med. Gull flew towards The Webley on the rising tide. 1 Knot amongst the c30 Redshank.
Gathering on the HT at The Webley, 1 very vocal! Bar-tailed Godwit amongst the 123 Curlew(1ringed), 3 Shelduck, & c50+ Teal amongst the c200 Wigeon. Also a white col-ringed 1w BH Gull amongst the mainly BH & Common Gulls.

Pembs birds

The Freshwater West, Grey Phalarope taken yesterday am.(photo Sue Lamb)

Rose-coloured Starling, still present in Pembroke Dock today.

(George)

Gann

A decent selection late afternoon in blustery & squally conditions: an adult Great Northern Diver close in, a Knot, a Greenshank, 4 Ringed Plover, 6 Little Egret, 5 Goldeneye, 20+ Teal, 5 Goldeneye, c.15 Redshank, 23 Brent (all pale-bellied), 1 Great-crested Grebe and good views of an adult Med Gull on the pools. At dusk the roost, which was scattered across the bay and generally distant, held at least 8 Med Gulls (7 ads & 1 2ndW).

Strumble / Flagpoles 29th Nov.

An hour at Strumble Head ( 11.45 till 12.45 ) produced only 7 Common Scoter & a sgl Red Throated Diver with a few Auks & Kittiwakes making their way through.
A look at the Flagpoles on the way back found 1 Ad. Med Gull , 20+ Common Gulls & 2 Great Crested Grebes.
FISHGUARD FORT
A quick look a bit later on from the Fort in very uncomfortable conditions had just 1 Gt Northern Diver .

Yellow-legged Gull -- Llys-y-fran Resr.

Llys-y-fran Resr;-
An ad. Yellow-legged Gull was the best gull to be found(Paul G.),
Although a Greylag Goose was a good site record. (assc. with c180 Canada Geese).
In fact the 1st WeBs record of Greylag Goose for the resr!
(WeBs began in '71/'72 at resr.)

Rosebush Resr;-
Highlights here, 5 Goldeneye, & 7 Tufted. Although 22 Coot a good site record.
(Adrian & Rich D.)

Dive Dive Dive!

Three Great Northern Divers close together as Stena Europe left her berth this afternoon with great views from the outer breakwater light. At least four Purple Sandpipers, five R. Plovers and one Turnstone on seaward side.

At Strumble pretty quiet with now only occasional Kitty's passing , one each of Rt Diver , C Scoter and Gannet. A Peregrine flew in from the sea and a Merlin was hedge-hopping the hinterland.
I forgot to mention a Barn Owl hunting the grassy verge just above the Harbour View roundabout on the hill going up from Goodwick to Fishguard on Friday night.

Grey phalarope

Grey phalarope

Freshwater west c.10.00 feeding along the length of shoreline-very approachable.
Dave G.

Today -- Friday

Marloes Mere:-
The latest gem from Elwyn, taken this am of the Irish Hen Harrier.

Newport;-
5 rh Goosanders off The Parrog,
(Karen),
Surely the birds seen later in Fishguard?

Amroth;-
Appeared v. quiet, just 3 Red-throated Divers was the best I could do in a brief look, not HT.

Teifi;-
ad & 1w Med. Gulls from The Quay mid. afternoon.
(Wendy)

Poyston/ Withybush;-
A good search through gulls didn't produce a scarce one yet, c350 BH Gulls though.
(Paul G.)

kittiwake passage.

Another brief visit to Strumble but tide low and wind NW when arrived so not so good for porp's. I did a few samples of the steady stream of Kitties moving west and they averaged around 15 per minute.
That equates to nearly a thousand per hour! a couple of gannets passed as did two scoter, odd auks and fulmars. A single GN Diver was the star of the half hour watch.

Goodwick Moor & Flagpoles 27th Nov 2 - 3 p.m.

A single calling Chiffchaff by the bridge leading on to the boardwalk .
Flagpoles were more of interest with now 3 Great Crested Grebes ( seen first by Mr. Berry ) & bizzarely 5 Goosander flew from the direction of the moor , toured around the harbour & disappeared around towards Pen Anglas , all redheads.

Fishguard & Strumble head

A Gt-northern diver close in to the central breakwater on the ferry side.
Kittiwakes streaming past Strumble head going south. Auks also going south, some gannets, couple of fulmar, (1 auk going north wizzed by very fast!). Also 1 Red-throated diver 1 Gt-northern diver & 1 Artic skua all heading south.
Small pod of porpoises seen, one leapt clear of the water, (1st time I have seen one airborne!).

Marsh harrier, Slavonian Grebe etc.....

Some quality winter birding around the south of the county today.
Landshipping and Lawrenny quiet but at Garron Pill - 1 Jack Snipe, c30 Common Snipe and a Greenshank.
Angle Bay from the village - 1 Slavonian Grebe, 1 Spotted Redshank, 3 Great Northern Divers, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 2 adult Med Gulls, at least 7 Light bellied Brent Geese but distant so possibly more roosting, 1 Greenshank heard.
Castlemartin Corse - excellent views of an immature Marsh harrier. 6 Stock Dove.
St Govans - only a few Shag, small numbers of Kittiwakes and Auks and distant Gannets seen during a short sea watch.
Pembroke River at Bentlass - 1 Great Northern Diver, 80 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Greenshank, c250 Dunlin, 7 Ringed Plover and over 3,000 Wigeon.
(Paul G and Wendy J)

Yesterday

Fishguard Fort
Great Northern Diver 3

Lower Fishguard
Great Northern Diver 1
Kingfisher 2
Turnstone 15

Flagpoles
Great crested Grebe 1
Redshank 10

Close encounter with Little Gull

The highlight for us during a morning of birding in the St Davids area was a close encounter with a Ist winter Little Gull that popped up from behind a hedgerow on Treleddyn Farm.

For several minutes we were able to enjoy close views of the delightful pelagic as it dip fed off "Water Buffalo field". Each time it completed its up-wind feeding leg it returned to the hedgerow, behind which we sheltered, to resume another circuit.

C160 Lapwing 38 Goldies were also present on the farm.

Gann yesterday

Brent goose presence increased to 22 birds. Red-throated and Great Northern Divers in Bay plus a Great Crested Grebe. Too many dog walkers.

Grey Corvid(s) ?

Re the recent posting below I took this pic on Skomer on the 9 july 2009. I wonder if this could be the same bird and has anybody got any comments to make - no it would not turn round !

Chaffinch

Jenny Green took this photo some 10 days ago - through a window of her house at St Ishmaels. I hope it`s just a plumage aberration!

Rose-coloured Starling -- Pemb. Dock .....&...

The juv. Rose-coloured Starling present in the garden from c10:00 this am, intermittently until c14:30 when the weather closed in.
Please contact Rich. D if you would like to visit.
(George C.)

From Rich C. in Hong Kong en route to NZ.. I won't list his birds so far.....! but a line.... "As I write, Black Kites cruising past the appartment on the 31st Floor"

Little to Sea

A stolen half hour at Strumble this afternoon, revealed a steady trickle of Kittiwakes heading into the gale with occasional Auks and Fulmars. In amongst them a lone first winter Little Gull. also of interest, an adult great Black Backed Gull eating a small grapefruit sized Octopus!

Black Redstart -- Bosheston

1 on a house roof nr. the St. Govan's Inn this am.

Med Gulls & ............

Llandstadwell;-
1 Gt. N. Diver,
Milford RFC;-
2 1w Med Gulls.
Gelliswick;-
5 ad Med. Gulls(2 ringed)
(Paul G.)

Teifi Marshes

Cettis Warbler 2
Liittle Grebe 2
Pied Wagtail about 100 came in to roost
Red Kite 1
Water Rail 5 calling
Bullfinch 2 pairs

Around Bosherston lakes this afternoon

Not too much of note, but the drake goosander that arrived over a week ago is still in the eastern arm; 7 goldeneye are in the western arm as usual. This just may possibly be a regular returning pair with this years young. I have noted a single male with females/immatures in exactly the same location over the last 2-3 seasons, arriving at about this time. The 10 gadwall may also be 5 pairs.

Along the wooded shoreline today a single blackcap, at least 6 chiffchaffs and 2 firecrests - all calling well and fairly obvious.

Belated report --- Glossy Ibis -- the Fen!

Glossy Ibis was seen flying over WT's side of Llangloffan Fen on 14th October at 10:00am. It was heading towards CCW's side yet landed at the furthest side of our reserve, roughly at GR SM899319.
(Nathan Walton)

Eider -- off Neyland

A fem./ juv. Eider off Neyland this morning. The same location as one 5/12/2005.
(Allan Hansen)

Leach's petrel - Ramsey

Managed a quick half hour seawatch at 3:30pm and was treated to a cracking Leach's petrel close in. Also of note was a single bonxie amongst the many auks (quite a few back in summer plumage now).

Bonxies

2 Great Skuas flew west past Pen Anglas point at 13:00 and 15:00.

Ramsey Sound

I could have done with a Strumble-type shelter on Ramsey Sound this morning. Little to see except for the salt spray, and given the buffeting from the wind, I felt the spray rather than saw it (once it had coated my glasses). Three cormorants in the vicinity of the life-boat station, and the odd herring gull drifting past now and again were the only bird-life. Anything else was either sheltering on the Ramsey side, or lost to view in the swell. Lots of oystercatchers and gulls on the fields at Newgale, and lots of foam out on the sea. Not a nice day for doing anything much outside.

Grey Raven

A friend of ours has reported a grey Raven in the Marloes area - has anyone else seen it??

His email is below:

"Any thoughts on the grey raven I saw yesterday?

It looked just like a raven – and flew just like one – but its wings were especially noticeably dark grey and not black, and this was not a trick of the light. Its beak was as formidable as a raven’s, and black.

It took off from the field S of the YHA as I walked down to the cliff path, flew past me and headed out over the sea with great skill and confidence, despite the wind strength."

Rosemary

Strumble Head 09.30 - 13.30 23rd Nov.

Conditions : West / Force 6 - 8 early then slightly WNW .

Tufted Duck - 1 m
Common Scoter - 6 ( 2f )
R T Diver - 1
G N Diver - 1
Manx Shearwater - 3
FULMAR - 802 ( Still passing in reasonable no's when i left )
Grey Plover - 1
Pom Skua - 1 ( Pale prob 3rd year )
Artic Skua - 1 ( Pale Ad. )
Bonxie - 9
Little Auk - 1

Kittiwakes & Gillies / Razorbills passing in 1000's

Joined by Colin Butters at 11.45 , then shortly after we were joined briefly by a Female / 1st W type Black Redstart in the lookout.

late report from Colin, 1 G N Diver, the only bird of note, but the auk, Fulmar, Kittiwake passage continued 'til dusk.

Goultrop, Newgale and the Gann

A (very) car-based trip on Sunday afternoon produced:

- Goultrop: Common Scoter flock up to 36

- Newgale: marsh heavily flooded(!). 86 Mallard, 6 Teal, 7 Canada Geese, c15 Black-headed Gulls, c25 Herring Gulls, 1 Greater Black-back. An extremely confiding and very dark Rock Pipit (that wanted to shelter under the front wheel, and was reluctant to move even when I started the engine), 30 Curlew and 28 Oystercatchers

- The Gann: no Snipe seen (vs 25 roosting at same time on Friday), but Goldeneye up to 1M,3F. Great Northern Diver just offshore, and 2 Great-crested Grebe in Dale Roads.

Pembrokeshire Bird Group Conference

The Pembrokeshire Bird Group would like to thank everyone who took part or came to our annual conference on the 21st November 2009. We had a full programme of varied and very interesting speakers.

Special thanks to Chevron Ltd, Pembroke for hosting the event and for providing excellent food and facilities.

The ‘Atlas of Breeding Birds in Pembrokeshire 2003-2007’ was very successfully launched on the day and credit was given to those involved.

Strumble ..

A 15 minute look out to see at Strumble late morning produced 1 Red-throated Diver and a flock of 4 Knot as well as plenty of Kittis & Auks. Only 2 Fulmar and 1 Gannet, which seemed odd. Porps too far out to show Bea.
Sam Bosanquet.

Help..........! Another Glossy sighting??

Llangloffan Fen;-
According to a report in the Welsh Wildlife Newsletter, (the SWWWT email magazine)
"A highlight of the day was seeing a Glossy Ibis fly overhead & land on the reserve some distance away."
Any details from anyone who was on that working party, or who knows of the sighting, is very welcome!!
(I am awaiting a reply from Nathan Walton.)

Hook/Sprinkle & Gann

Highlights of my WeBS count at Hook/Sprinkle Pill this morning were a Pintail (female), a Knot, and 267 Teal. In the Pill itself a brief flight view, obscured by trees, of what may have been a Bittern, but not able to relocate as it landed out of view on the opposite bank. Worth a look on a rising tide I reckon.

At the Gann late afternoon 11 pb Brents & 2 Med Gulls (ad & 2ndW).

Rose - coloured Starling -- Pembroke Dock

The R-c Starling came to the garden feeder at the predicted time of 1415. The bird fed for a few minutes then flew off, returning for a second feed, before presumably going off to roost.

This has been the pattern for the past c7 days.

George & Helen Clayton, are very happy for birders to go & see the bird.

Unless it's visiting pattern changes, then birders are welome to visit from c1400. To visit, please contact me, as the bird can only be watched from inside the house, & I will pass on further details. This area is almost totally residential with a junior school in close proximity. No other known sightings from the surrounding parks, amenity areas etc. (photo, Helen.)

I did have ad & 2w Med. Gulls(un-ringed) on a sports field as I entered Pembroke Dock this am.

Teifi

Highlights of the Teifi WeBS count this month were 5 Light-bellied Brent Geese and 17 Bar-tailed Godwit. This is a high number for November with the peak passage of Barwits usually being September. (There was an exceptional count in Sept 1991 of 166!)
33 Redshank opposite St Dogmaels quay. 180 Lapwing were flying over the river above Cardigan bridge. 1 Common Sandpiper still at Jewsons.

Starlings

Again several large flocks today, this morning there was a ribbon effect stretching from Gaylane terrace at Marloes, down the lane past Winterton farm to the Mullock junction, ( hazardous trying to count whilst driving!) there must`ve been 5000+.
This afternoon over St Ishmaels football field some 3500 flew over,& around our house in the village a similar number to yesterday + lots of smaller smaller flocks around. I wonder how many thousands more there are in the area.

Bird Atlas 2007-11

We are making great progress with timed-tetrad coverage for the Atlas. Already a number of 10 km squares have received the minimum TTV coverage in winter if not in summer, and others have at least the minimum number of tetrads allocated. So a big thanks to everyone who has contributed to these to date. In the table below we have highlighted the minimum number of tetrads per 10 km square that still needed to be allocated and covered to reach the desired minimum target for the County as a whole.

We have listed the tetrads that are the priority ones to select from if possible, as these will be directly comparable with the previous national atlas. With the minimum coverage obtained, this will enable statistically significant population estimates to be made in these 10 km squares.

We don't seem to be able to put a proper table in a blog post, so the following lines show each 10km square, the number of tetrads needing timed-visits (TTVs) to reach the minimum coverage required in a 10 km square, and then the tetrads that we'd like you to choose from:

SM72 1 Preferably from either of SM72T or 72Y
SM80 1 Preferably from any of SM80I, 80J, 80N, 80P, 80T, 80U or 80Y
SM81 1 Preferably from either SM81F or SM81X
SM83 1 Preferably from either of SM83K or 83Z
SM90 1 Preferably from any of SM90F, 90H, 90K or 90T
SM92 2 Preferably from any of SM92I, 92R, 92T, 92X or 92Y
SM93 4 Preferably from any of SM93F, 93N, 93R, 93S, 93T or 93W
SN02 2 Preferably from any of SN02C, 02E, 02K, 02N, 02R or 02U
SN03 1 Preferably from any of SN03C,03 I, 03L or 03U
SN23 3 Preferably from any of SN23E, 23J, 23P, 23X or 23Z
SS09 1 SS09Z

What is required? Bird counts to help produce population estimates.
A minimum of 1 hour (maximum of 2 hours) in each of two periods in two seasons; counting birds seen during a walk through the typical range of habitats in the tetrad.

Winter - early period (Nov/Dec); late period (Jan/Feb)
Summer – early period (Apr/May); late period (Jun/Jul)

Swallows on the Corse

Whilst carrying out a Webs count during atrocious weather conditions this AM on Castlemartin Corse with Morris North, we watched 2 Swallows hawking around farm buildings close to Castlemartin Church. Also... a Chiff in the graveyard and a Brambling in the vicinity of the nearby sewerage works.

Wooltack Point: Grey Phalarope and Bonxie

Believe it or not we actually found some shelter on Wooltack Point this morning, although our position worsened dramatically as the wind veered from Southerly to Westerly!

But it was well worth it: a seawatch from 0800 to 1100 with a north-flowing tide produced large numbers of Fulmars (200+? many of which spent some time rafting in groups of 15-20), Kittiwakes (60+, of which about two thirds were beautifully marked immatures) and Razorbills (50-100, spread out over St Brides Bay). Also 3 adult Gannets, a Peregrine flying very low over the sea, and a couple of Guillemots, one of which was still in summer plumage.

Gulls were predominantly Herring, with 6-8 Great Black-Backs and about the same number of Lessers.

The Kittiwakes increasingly concentrated right under the point, feeding actively in the tidal flow (and very successfully, for what looked like small brit). Among them only about 100 yards out was a lovely Grey Phalarope, alternating between feeding on the water, and fluttering along with the Kittiwakes. The other bird that associated with the Kittiwakes for a short period was an adult Black-headed Gull.

Later, joined by Steve Sutcliffe, we got a cracking long view of a Bonxie flying steadily at low level out of the bay. Then we all got very wet.

Saturday: Goultrop to St Brides

While many (most?) of us sensibly spent Saturday relishing the comfort and refreshments of Chevron, and the excellent range of talks and presentations (many thanks to all concerned for organising and hosting it), my brother optimistically thought a birding walk from Goultrop to Martin’s Haven was called for. Before he nearly drowned, highlights were:

Goultrop: 20+ Common Scoter, o/w 9 males, and 1 Great Northern Diver. The Scoter were flying in small groups from further out in St Bride’s Bay a couple of hours after High Tide. 3 Bullfinch (2m, 1f).

On the Coast Path back: another 1-2 Great Northerns and 4 Redwings. 1 surprisingly confiding Whimbrel at St Bride's Haven.

Friday on the Gann: 25+ Snipe roosting on the Crabhall Farm side, an immature Peregrine being mobbed by crows, 1 Little Egret, female Goldeneye, 3 Dabchick, 30+ Teal, 1 Buzzard

Dowrog -- Hen Harrier

1 Hen Harrier at the Dowrog yesterday pm,
(John & Jan)

7 Great Northern Divers -- Angle

An early visit (HT) to Angle village, provided excellent views of Great N. Divers, generally close, & the previously photo'd adult showing really close!
We concluded a minimum of 7 G N Divers, at least 5 being adults.
(Adrian has also told me at at least 4 of the 6 G N Divers off Fishguard are ad's.)
3 Gt. Ctd. Grebes & c15 LB Brent Geese on the choppy waters.
Norman had a count of 22 LB Brent Geese yesterday.

(Teifi RG venturing South!)

Starlings / Meds

Several good sized flocks today, these here were part of a c1500 strong flock at St Ishmaels. At Dale around 4pm, there was an impressive c4000, with another guestimation of 2000 at Philbeach farm.
6 Med gulls at the Gann - 4 ad + 2 2nd winters. 9 Brent also.

Goultrop Roads

Only 2 Shags present today, but a total of 13 Kittiwakes came into the beginnings of a decent roost, but I couldn't stay late enough to see how high the total reached! 11 adults & 2 1stWs. No divers, which was a surprise.

A quick look at Llanstadwell produced a 1stW Med Gull.

Fishguard Fort 21st Nov.

As suspected yesterday 6 Great Northern Divers in Fishguard Harbour this afternoon viewed from the fort , also 1 Great Crested Grebe still.

Rose - coloured Starling -- Pembroke Dock

The starling was seen again in the private garden at c15:00 today.
Access is likely to be arranged if the bird continues it's stay, but will be by prior arrangement only.

Bittern -- Teifi Marshes

Kingfisher Hide;-
The Bittern was seen briefly in front of the hide this am at c09:00, but not since. Seen in the area of cut reeds to the right as you look from the hide.
(Paul M.)

Black Redstart

One present at Sealyham today

Spotted Redshank -- Llangwm Pill.

The wintering bird showing well in the Pill at 14:15 today.
(Merv.)

Tetrad-bashing, and loving it

I received my emails from the BTO Atlas people and then from Annie this week and felt guilty at the number of blank and under-recorded tetrads in Pembrokeshire. So I decided to volunteer for a tetrad up in the Preselis, far off my patch, and one in an area lacking many roving records. So I signed up for SN13L, the "peak" of Foel Drygarn, with a large area of moorland, and an interesting plantation in the south-east corner.

First thing this morning did not seem promising for a winter TTV, but by 1030 the sky was clearing, and the wind dropping as my brother and I set off from the car up the long open slope towards Foel Drygarn. We nearly stopped right there: the slope was just covered with beautiful Fieldfares, feeding, chacking and acting as nervously as only Fieldfares can do. The count started at 40, and quickly hit 100+, and then we started to count Redwings, hidden amongst the Fieldfares. 50, then 100. As we finally dragged ourselves away from this lovely sight we started to wade up a boggy area with several small streams taking runoff from the rain. A strange snipe flushed, and then immediately dropped down again. Small, and no bill apparent. Then another, but this one flew much further in a "snipe way", and showed strong white barring on the back, tail and wings, and a bill. As we walked up, the original bird flushed again: Jack Snipe!

As we reached the summit, the bird activity dropped off to a pair of Ravens as the exposure to the wind increased, but the crags along the entire ridge line look a potential habitat for Ring Ouzels next year (3 more TTVs to go!). Reaching the plantation, Meadow Pipits started to show: singletons, then a flock of 9, and a lone Reed Bunting sat on a patch of gorse. As we walked along the tree line (the pines are far too densely planted to see anything inside) we flushed 2 Woodcock in the clearfell, and the road back to car had 50+ Chaffinches, 4 species of tits and good numbers of House Sparrows, all benefiting from feeders at the farms.
So, a fantastic morning out: 28 species from an area that, without the Atlas, I would probably never have visited.

Pom Skua & Little Auk

I had a good day out at Pen Anglas point today, a Little Auk west close inshore at 13:00, a moulting pale phase Pomarine Skua west at 14:30 and a Merlin over east at 15:00.

Flagpoles 16.00 20th Nov. Divers

At least 6 Divers in the bay , 2 Great Northern & a group of 4 more distant which i couldn't quite pin down , although i suspect they are Great Northern as well. An Adult Med. Gull & a very advanced 1st W. Med. Gull. 1 Great Crested Grebe fairly close in.

Barcud Coch this morning by New Inn at Rosebush.

Rose-coloured Starling -- Pembroke Dock

Hi, Richard
The bird arrived earlier this week (Wednesday) and was in my garden for two days. It roosted in a small conifer next to the bird feeding station. It was very aggressive toward the local starlings which it chased from the food table whenever they approached. It didn't seem in the least bit timid. I'm only sorry I didn't get a better pic.
There was also a visit on two days from a female black redstart on Sunday (15th) and Tuesday(17th)

Cheers
George

Shags

Interesting sight this morning - a tight group of 57 Shags close inshore in the bay at Pickleridge.

Must have eventually got fed up with the windy weather and sought some shelter.

Rosemary

See photo on Birdguides

Rose-coloured Starling -- Pembroke Dock !!

Med Gulls...... & Common Sand.

Gelliswick;-
7 Med. Gulls,(6 ad & 1w)
Castle Pill;-
1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Greenshank.
Newgale;-
1w Med Gull on the campsite.
(Paul G.)

Flagpoles 15.00 ish 19th Nov

1 Adult Med. Gull with the mix of Blk Headed , Common & Herring Gulls. 1 Great Crested Grebe & 2 Great Northern Divers viewable with bins quite close in from the flagpoles.

Strumble Head earlier for an hour , a large flock of gulls ( 200+ ) feeding between the lighthouse & the lookout , predominantly kittiwakes with a fair number of this years birds. A few Gillies & Razorbills in the flock as well. Nothing passed out to sea apart from a couple of suicidal Cormorants.

Reptiles for Birds

Bird conservationists need to think long-term. So, if you want to get your reptile food supply up to scratch for future colonisation by Short-toed Eagles or just feed the local Barn Owls with frogs, you might be interested in this excellent event on the 28th of this month - details here

Angle (15 Nov 09)

Sorry for the late post!

Better views of birds on Sunday compared to Saturday - from Old Point House:

Great Northern Diver - 3

Slavonian Grebe - 1

Razorbill - 1

The Pembrokeshire Breeding Birds Atlas is published

After 5 years of fieldwork by some 127 observers, visiting 492 tetrads and collecting some 30,000 records, the Atlas of Breeding Birds in Pembrokeshire 2003-2007 is now a reality. This latest important audit (dare we say health-check) of our breeding birds will be formally launched at this weekends Bird Conference being hosted by Chevron.

The book covers more than 100 breeding species, with maps for most showing changes in distribution between the first breeding birds survey (1984-88) and 2003-07. Initially it will be on sale at the conference (price £10-00) and at future Bird Group meetings.

THE Hen Harrier -- a first...!

Irish Hen Harrier :-
Hi Elwyn, I've been alerted to your photos on birdguides.com. Well done, wonderful pics. This beautiful bird I ruined by putting on wing tags this summer as a youngster in West Clare, Ireland. She is from a brood of 4, hatched in a lovely quiet bog, with lots of green molinia and heather. She was a quite large bird (538g, Wing 254mm). I'm delighted to see she is still doing well (though I'd nearly hoped she'd stay on Skomer Island, where she'd spent the last month or so). Can you tell me about where you saw her. Where exactly is it? What is the habitat like? Is it a safe place? Plenty of food? Do you think she is roosting there also? Is it a known roosting area? What time of day did you see her and do you live in the region? She will forever be remembered as the first Hen Harrier proven to fly off the island of Ireland! And all thanks to yourselves in Wales. Her trip to Skomer was 285km from home, on a direct bearing of 112 degrees. This bearing from home to Skomer, crosses straight over Hook Head, where so many young Hen Harriers in Ireland are found each autumn and winter. I have long suspected and stated that Hen Harriers must be leaving Ireland at points like this, and that in the case of the South-East, these birds must be travelling to either Cornwall or Wales. Skomer would be the first landfall for such a journey in that direction. I have attached for you both the colour scheme for Ireland 2009 (if possible, you can circulate this to your contacts/on your website/offices etc). I also attach a photo of your new neighbour from when she was young(er)! and a map of her journey to date. I would very much appreciate it if you could send some of the hi-res shots you took of her, as it helps inform me as to her plumage and health. I would be delighted if you could pass on any further sightings, or let your colleagues/friends know to keep an eye out for her (unless it creates a scene and attention from landowners). Thanks and well done again Elwyn, a truly magnificent find! Make sure ye look after her! They're as precious over here as they are in Wales. And I've no doubt birds from Cymru are heading to Éireann! Barry

Tegryn

We have had a peregrine over here a couple of times in the last week. The Gt-Sp-woody has been about again now I am feeding.
Also the tawny owls were heard 3 nights ago.
Still several kites regularily on Frenni Fawr over the re-seeded field by the road.

Pen Anglas

I saw a Merlin fly over east at 14:00.

Hen Harrier Marloes

A couple of nice shots of a wing tagged Hen Harrier taken by Elwyn Davies from the Britton Hide, Marloes Mere this morning.

Flagpoles 16.00 17th Nov.

Just the 2 Adult Med. Gulls today , an increase slightly in the Redshank (6) , a single Ringed Plover & the usual Turnstones & Oystercatchers. A few more gulls today with a increase in Common Gull no's.

Glynaeron Forest

On the road from Maenchlochog a male Peregrine and on the way back a group
of 4 Red Kites. Not much in the forest but saw a Goldcrest and a Woodcock

Angle Area

Angle Bay, mid morning, from the old Lifeboat station 3 adult Great Northern Divers, 1 Slavonian Grebe and a Guillemot. In the harbour with the tide well out a Spotted Redshank.
Earlier at Kilpaison (from Dave G) 150 Dunlin, 2 Barwits and 14 Brents.
Castlemartin Corse a female/imm Marsh Harrier. Rich C & Morris N

Pen Anglas

I saw an adult Med Gull fly east past the point at 13:00.

Angle Bay

This afternoon from old lifeboat station
2 Great Northern divers
1 Slavonian Grebe and a water pipit on the south side of the bay

Withybush

Paul G. has started the study of the gulls at the airfield for the winter!
Plenty of gulls, particularly in the surrounding fields, perhaps a greater proportion of Black-headed Gulls or is it that we are looking earlier? Otherwise the main species LBB Gulls.

Also today a large juv. female Peregrine bathing in a runway pool.
Reports from a couple of farmers to Paul, of a "white Starling" associating with Starlings. Plenty of Starling flocks feeding around the area in which to look for.....??

Flagpoles 15.00 16th Nov.

2 Adult & 1 1st W Med Gulls in the small amount of gulls present. At least 2 Gt. Crested Grebes fairly close in on the flagpoles side of the Harbour. 4 Turnstone , 2 Curlew , 1 Redshank & a few Oystercatchers made up the wader count.

Med Gulls

Seeing Derek's shot of a winter Med and BH gull reminded me of a shot I took this summer:

North Pembs

Teifi;-
1 Pale-bellied Brent Goose at the Webley this am, loosely with Canada's & the Bar-headed Goose
The Common Sandpiper at Jewsons.
Waders around the estuary included a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits, 30+ Redshank, 29 Ringed Plover & 15 Dunlin. c200 Wigeon mobile with the tide.

Newport;-
From the boat club this am. 1 Knot with c25 Ringed Plover & c20 Dunlin.

Llangloffan Fen;-
Not as flooded as yesterday, c30 Teal, c30 Wigeon.

Water Pipit Newgale 15th Nov.

Water Pipit still Newgale Camp Site today , reasonable views were had until it was ( & all the other pipits ) flushed by a marauding Merlin which fortunately appeared to leave empty handed. ( or empty clawed , i suppose ! ) On the marsh small no's of Wigeon , Teal & Mallard.

Dale

Highlights from Dale mid afternoon to dusk:
Fort: 1 Chiffchaff, 8 Cormorants on the pontoon in Dale Roads, including one with an obvious metal ring on the right leg (one of Steve's St. Margaret's birds perhaps?)
Village: 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Goldcrest
Gann: 1 Great Northern Diver quite close in (moulting adult, much as the Angle bird below), 1 Razorbill very close in, 2 Dunlin, 13 Ringed Plover, 11 Turnstone, 10 Redshank, 7 Teal, 5 Little Egrets
Gull roost (from village): 3 Med Gulls (all ads), 40+ Common, c.300 Black-headed, 500+ Lesser Black-backed, handful of Herring (easy to view from the benches on the seafront, quite a few birds there from 3pm onwards)

Skomer

2 juvenile Hen Harriers came in to roost in North Valley this evening, including the Irish wing-tagged bird.

Milford dock

Got `im! 1 week & several loaves later, now too heavy to take off, this gorgeous Med gull allowed me to take his(?) portrait. Unable to decipher alloy ring. Nice comparison with Black Headed too.

Fishguard Outer Breakwater 15th Nov.

Not really the best state of the tide to be on there but myself & Rich D still had 1 Purple Sandpiper & this extremely tame Snow Bunting.

Angle Area

With the tide way out this morning there were no waders to be seen in Angle Harbour except a lone Spotted Redshank so quality rather than quantity.

A quick look over Castlemartin Corse from the road between Freshwater West and Castlemartin village was rewarded with a imm/fem Marsh Harrier quartering the reedbed. There is (not surprisingly) now an awful lot of water on the Corse and this area could be good for wildfowl and Harriers in the next few weeks.

At Bosherston a heck of a lot of silt in the water. No sign of the Otters but 10 Gadwall, 1 drake Goosander and 250+ B H Gulls loafing and bathing.

Angle (14 Nov 09)

Great Northern Diver - 1 (Ad)

Slavonian Grebe - 1 (Around the boats by the lifeguard station)

Mediterranean Gull - 3 (1st W)

Yellow- legged Gulls -- Llys-y-fran

Tonight's roost;-
2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls, & 1 r/h Goosander the highlights.
c4000 gulls, c3000 LBB's, c200 Herring, c800 BH Gulls, 2 Common Gulls.
(Adrian & Rich D.)

Llangloffan Fen;-
6 Wigeon, 6 Teal, Mallard, c 100Lapwing, all viewed from the top road.

During the drive from Solva, 1 Yellowhammer, Snipe being flushed from the roadside, & 10's of flocks of Starlings, each flock c500 birds.... presumably Plumstone roosters?

Water Pipit - Newgale

A Water Pipit was on the flooded campsite at Newgale this afternoon.
(Paul G)

Gann

Highlights at the Gann this afternoon (3-4pm): 3 Great Northern Diver, 9 pb Brent Geese, 18 Turnstone, 14 Ringed Plover, 13 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 1 Shelduck, 3 Mute Swan, 5 Little Egret, 10 Teal, 4 Goldeneye, 4 Little Grebe & at least 8 Rock Pipit.

Penberry 14th Nov.

A quick look at Penberry Res. ( while dodging the showers ) found a few wildfowl , mostly Wigeon a few Teal , 2 smart Drake Pochard , 5 Dabchicks , 5 Coot & a couple of Moorhen.Hundreds if not thousands of Starlings in the area , some large flocks of Woodpigeon going over & a few Reed Buntings in with some small flocks of House sparrows around a couple of the farms.

Another Woodcock.

Or it could`ve been one of the two I saw the other morning, it was only a few hundred metres away at Goose green, St Ishmaels.

strumble surprise!

It seems a bit sad putting my poor photographic efforts alongside the likes of Rich's but just to prove some Black Redstarts made it as far north as Strumble! I took this about ten o clock this morning. This is perching on the wall just across from the lighthouse and may have only just arrived. Only a brief visit with nothing much on the sea birdwise but also saw what looked like a Phylosc-y type warbler in the stunted gorse opposite the wall. It flew off just after I disturbed it so not exactly sure what it was...

Otterly Wonderful

Friday 13th turned out pretty lucky for me as I took the opportunity for a quick look round Bosherston before the next deluge hits. A walk from the 8 Arch Bridge up to the Grassy Bridge produced a pair of Goosander but little else of note. Back at the 8 Arch Bridge the Mother and 2 Cubs appeared and swam around between the bridge and the reedbed for 10 mins or so. The mother then swam over to the side beneath the path and gave excellent prolonged views, down to 10 feet or so. Well worth a visit as these normally shy animals continue to be very confiding. Click here for gallery of all photos over the last 2 weeks.

Just a reminder that Autumnwatch features Pembrokeshire tonight (tomorrow night on BBC Wales) with, hopefully, the Angle Area featured and a piece on the Fin Whales seen back in August. See also the Whales in Wales blog for recent Bottlenose Dolphin sightings.

Dark-bellied Brent Geese

Birds of the day.....?
2 D -b. Brent's having a fly around Fishguard Harbour this pm.
(Adrian)

Pen Anglas

I saw a Merlin fly over east at 13:00 and an adult Med Gull in the same direction past the point at 15:00.

Skomer

Been pretty quiet the last couple of days, a few thrushes have been around first thing in the mornings, we had our first Woodcock of the autumn yesterday, and another today & 3 female Pintail were on North Pond yesterday

Pembrokeshire Bird conference

2009 Pembrokeshire Bird Conference

The Bird Conference again being hosted by Chevron Refinery is on Saturday the 21st of November. There are still some places left, tickets and details from Wendy at Cilgerran on 01239 621212

Woodcock

2 above the wooded area below the school at St Ishmaels, first light this mornig.

Fishguard Harbour 10th Nov. 3p.m.

An Ad. Winter Black Throated Diver & 3 Red Throated Diver ( Ad. & 2 1st w ) viewed from Fishguard Fort from 3 till 4 p.m. No Auks seen.

Lunch at the 8 Arch Bridge

The Herons and Swans at the 8 Arch Bridge, Bosherston have provided some great entertainment for photographers whilst waiting for the Otters to appear & there have also been plenty of glimpses of Pike near the bridge. Here's a great shot of a Grey Heron with a pretty large Pike taken by Elwyn Davies yesterday - he also has the photographic proof that the Heron managed to swallow the fish!

Teifi

No sign of the Bittern yesterday pm, or betwen 14:00-17:00 on Sunday.

Starlings.... a bit of a guess, but 20,000 over going to roost in Ceredigion... but up to 5000 roosted in the Teifi Marsh nr the river(Sun. & Mon.)

Firecrest,
1 calling yesterday evening, whilst we were ringing Pied Wagtails coming in pre- roost.
(Teifi RG)

Skomer yesterday

Lots of birds on the move again yesterday morning, but the clear skies & calm conditions meant I probably missed more than I saw - 1500 Woodpigeons, 5 Stock Doves, 2000 Starlings, 60 Skylarks, 55 Lapwings, 150 Chaffinches, 20 Siskins, 4 Bramblings & a Snow Bunting.
There were plenty of thrushes first thing which all filtered off to the mainland - 120 Blackbirds, 40 Song Thrushes & 150 Redwings.
A Jack Snipe was on North Pond & a flock of 6 Long-tailed Tits came over.

I see Skomer is missing from the Atlas roving winter records - can Bob let me know what I need to do & I'll try & fill in those gaps

Spotted Redshank -- Llangwm

The Spotted Redshank still present today.
(Mervyn)

Winter Atlas - more roving records needed

Annie and I having been looking at the tetrad coverage so far for the winter Atlas. After two winters, coverage has been excellent but there are still around 58 tetrads out of nearly 500 that so far have had no winter "roving-records". These include some Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion tetrads where we have admin responsibility for the larger 10 km squares in which they lie. Records collected from these areas will also go to respective County Recorders for these Counties.

Click on this image to see a list of tetrads that don't have any records yet.

There are other tetrads that could do with more visits to boost species numbers but if you visit any of the ones listed left, any time in the next few winter months, this will add valuable new records to the Atlas. All the records collected will also form an important component of a local winter birds atlas at the end of the four year project. Some coastal ones only contain small portions of land but they all count!

Ring Billed Gull 9th Nov.

An Adult Ring Billed Gull this afternoon in the early part of the roost at Llys Y Fran at 3.30 p.m. It then flew into a field adjacent to the res. at approx 3.45 p.m. & had not returned by 4.45p.m.The roost consisted of approx. 2500 birds mostly Lesser Black Backed & Black Headed Gulls with smaller amounts of Herring Gulls. Also 11 Teal , 4 Gt Crested Grebes & 2 Kingfishers.

re.Autumnwatch in Pembrokeshire

re. earlier blog by Richard C. I think Autumnwatch is on Saturday in Wales, 18.00.

Angle Area

It was a wonderful still, crisp, sunny, morning at Bosherston. The mother Otter and 2 cubs showed briefly as did a pair of Goosander - the first I have seen there this winter. The BBC were there filming with Chris Packham and Kate Humble so look out for Pembrokeshire on this Friday's Autumnwatch.

At Angle Harbour late morning a juvenile Great Northern Diver was fishing close in to the shore

and provided some marvellous views (click on photo for larger image). Also there 3 pale bellied Brents, 20 Redshank and an adult Med Gull.

Round at Kilpaison there were 16 pale bellied Brents, 19 Bar Tailed Godwits, 8 Black Tailed Godwits, c.80 Dunlin, 4 Knot, 12 Ringed Plover, 9 Redshank, 30 Oystercatcher, a few Curlew and several hundred Wigeon. 3 Great Crested Grebes out in the bay.

Pen Anglas

I saw an adult Med Gull fly east past the point at 12:30.

Broad Haven

1 Drake Tufted Duck, 4 Wigeon & c100 Common Scoter this am.
(Paul G.)

Carew Mill

8.30 a.m. Usual morning dogwalk around castle pond produced 1 Black tailed godwit,24 Lapwing and several Redshank and Curlew and 10 Whooper Swans,which circled the eastern end of millpond before heading east upstream.
What a super sight to start off a frosty morning.

Preseli Dawn

This morning dawned clear and bright before the sun rose above the Preseli's, the view from my bedroom window. It soon became obvious as the light levels grew outside and in my head, that there was a lot of bird movement going on.

Between 0715 and 01730, c 750 Redwings passed by and around 300 Fieldfares. Odd flocks of Woodpidgeon added to the scenario.
Wonderful high level smudges (that were probably golden plover), formed Vee formations, disintegrated into black headed comets, before reforming back to altered Vee-s again.
All several miles away and too high to be sure.

Outside walking the dogs, the crisp cold air rang with the rich "chacks" of Fieldfares searching for what few haws and hips the council flail mower had spared along the lane, Redwings wailed their sorrowful "si-eeps".

A bitter sweet start to what will be for many of us, a bitter sweet day as we mourn the passing and celebrate the life of one who's friendly smile was a blessing.

ST DAVIDS

2 Black Redstarts in the city this morning 1 on the Tabanacle chapel been there all week on and off and one on a roof in Nun Street.Ringtail went to roost on the Dowrog at 15-20 unfortunately i wasnt able to stay any later also a Merlin present.A flock of 300+Wood Pigions feeding at Harglodd Farm with a simular flock of Lapwing on Treleddyn Farm.Penberi Res a nice selection of wildfowl 46 Wigion, 2 duck Gadwall, 2 Shoveler,1 Tufted Duck,Teal and Mallard.Porthclais very quiet this is the 5th weekend on the trot that i havnt seen a Goldcrest in the valley there.

Ramsey - black redstarts and divers

2 black redstarts still around. 2 GN divers seen on a seawatch today. 1 woodcock present for the past 2 days.

More Black Reds & a handful of Divers...

6 Black Redstarts in Dale mid-afternoon, a cracking adult male on the south side (favouring Coldstream Lodge) with 2 female/imms nearby, and another 3 on the north side along Blue Anchor Way. Also 2 Chiffchaffs in Dale. At the Gann 9 pale-bellied Brents, 2 adult Med Gulls with the roosting gulls at low tide and, in the gathering gloom, 5 Great Northern Divers in Dale Roads/Bay - at least 2 appeared to be moulting adults but I wouldn't bet my house on it. The most I've ever seen here, from memory.

Newport Sun am

I wasn't really intending to put anything up, but, if Richard says so!
I didnt see the Black Redstart & the Spoonbill & Green Sandpipers seem to have gone.
Much as expected. 20 Redshanks is q a lot & 55 Wigeon are building up. The usual smallish numbers of Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Curlew & Turnstones.
The Goldeneye still at the bridge. 3 Little Egrets & a solitary Lapwing.
No unusual or ringed gulls.

Pen Anglas

I saw an adult Med Gull fly west right over the point at 14:00.

Pochard

Info via e mail from Fran Eggby - Wigeon and Pochard seen at Penberi pond this morning,

Landshipping & Lawrenny

At Landshipping Quay this morning 76 Redshank, 15 Dunlin and a few Teal and Wigeon. Over at Sprinkle Pill 500+ Golden Plover and 200+ Lapwing.

At Lawrenny 15 Black Tailed Godwit, 148 Lapwing, 20 Redshank.

Back home in St Florence a Black Redstart around the house.

Black Redstart -- Newport .. &..

A nice male nr the rocks / lime kiln nr. the car park this am. (Karen)
-- more from Newport later (Sam)

Teifi;-
Northerly wind early, 1 Gt. Ctd. Grebe off The Webley... the rest waiting to be found !!

Black-tailed Godwits

22 Black-tailed Godwit at Lawrenny this afternoon.
The 3 Med Gulls seen earlier at Angle were 2 1st winters and an adult which was ringed. It was quite distinctive in that its metal ring was unconventionally above its knee.
3 Gadwall at Bosherston but otherwise quiet there.

(Paul G and Wendy J)

Black Red. & Marsh Harrier

St. David's & Ramsey Sound.
In re-search of porps of which there none, my day was enhanced by the following, a female Marsh Harrier nr St Justinans,1 adult Med Gull and 1 Red-throated Diver in the Sound, 6 scoter passing through and a nice male Black Redstart at Pen Pedol .
cheers Malcolm G Barradell

More Teifi today

Early am.
1 Gt. Ctd. Grebe from The Webley, also 3 Bar-tailed Godwits. A further small, noticably faster feeding Bar-tailed Godwit opp St. Dog's Quay.
Early pm, 1 Common Sandpiper & c12 Redshank at Jewsons. c90+ Teal in front of Creek Hide.
c250 Wigeon & 20 Redshank opp St. Dog's Quay.

Strictly Gulls

Took a look at Milford docks hoping to find something "a la Bonaparte`s" perhaps, but it didn`t happen. There was an adult Med - quite happy to scoff my bread I was throwing, but it was camera shy. Having had the trusty camera at the ready, I took a pic of these common or garden Blackheads, nevertheless still elegant, or as Craig-Revel-Horwood would say "absolutely goorgeous darlings."
Later at LLanstadwell, some 60 more B/H/gulls (roughly the same at Milford) & 1 1st winter Med.

Strumble (07 Nov 09)

Time: 1000 - 1200
Weather: Cloudy, sunny spells.
Wind: SW (F6)

Red Throated Diver - 2
Manx Shearwater - 1
Mediterranean Gull - 1 (1st W)
Common Scoter - 6 (2F, 4M)
Knot - 7
Puffin - 1

Teifi Marshes -- Bittern

Kingfisher Hide;-
"Fab views of a Bittern"
13:28 -- Karen
Not seen again until 15:15 when flew across in front of the hide.
When the Bittern was first seen, it was standing under the Sallow to the right of the hide, where an area of reeds has been cleared. It may favour this area, as this is at the end of our net ride through the reedbed,... thus a lovely fairly open shallow channel through the reeds for feeding.
(That was our thoughts & hope if it returned!)

Angle - Great Northern Divers

At Kilpaison between 10:00 and 11:30 14 Brents came down to the water edge and, as the tide dropped further, a few waders came in -c.20 Bar Tailed Godwit, 4 Knot, 25 Dunlin, 10 Ringed Plover, 30 Oystercatchers, and 20 Golden Plover flew past. Also several hundred Wigeon on the water and 5 Great Crested Grebes further out in the bay.

At Angle, late morning, 2 juvenile Great Northern Divers in the harbour. They spent some time close in near the shingle spit and gradually drifted out as the tide dropped. Each was seen to catch a crab as well as small fish. Also there 3 pale bellied Brents, 15 Turnstone, 8 Ringed Plover and 12 Redshank. Earlier Paul and Wendy had seen 3 Med Gulls. (Click photos for larger image)

Pen Anglas

I saw a Black-throated Diver fly west past the point at 12:45.

Ringtail

1 at Marloes mere this morning, with a pale green tag on it`s right wing.

Newport Fri pm

Didn't see the Spoonbill. The Goldeneye at the bridge is in an interesting (ie I've not seen it before) plumage between juv & adult male. 82 Curlews & 45 Common Gulls are not bad. Also an ad Med & a Kingfisher.

Black Redstart

A single Black Redstart on Harmony Chapel near Trefasser at 3.30 p.m. Lots of Chaffinches around Tregwynt & 2 Goldcrests.

Teifi at high tide

An unusually high count of Redshank this morning with 52 from St Dogmaels quay and 14 at Jewsons. The only WeBS count higher than this was 100 in December 1969.

Also around the estuary 6 Bar-tailed Godwit, 39 Ringed Plover, 7 Dunlin, 2 Shelduck, 20 Common Gulls and over 200 Wigeon.

Skomer

Had about 3000 Woodpigeons over first thing this morning, but the rain seems to have put an end to any more passage.

Strumble - two Little Auk and a late Storm Petrel

0730 to 1500hrs. NW full gale on arrival, backing occasionally WNW 6/7 gusting 8; sea state 5/6. As on Monday there was a strong movement of Auks and Kittiwakes for the first two hours reducing to a steady trickle for the rest of the watch. Around 50% of the Kittiwakes were juveniles. A scattering of Gannets passed during the day, with around 40% juveniles. Adrian joined me from about 0900 to 1215hrs.

Common Scoter 63, of which 5 were female
Pomerine Skua 2, one pale phase adult, the second a juvenile
Great Skua 4
Great-northern Diver 1, summer plumage
Red-throated Diver 2
Manx Shearwater 3
Fulmar 5
Shag 10, on the move
Cormorant 2
Brent Geese 6, pale bellied
Golden Plover 1
Leach's Petrel 3
Storm Petrel 1, a very close bird
Little Auk 2, I had the first, again very close with other auks; Adrian had the second, again quite close, but that one eluded me.
Raven 1
Starling c25, flying west along the tide race.

There were many more Blackbirds and Starlings than usual around the lanes and fields near the Lighthouse this morning.

Hook -- waders

Hook;-
600 Golden Plover, 200 Lapwing, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 150 Dunlin, 25 Redshank, 30 Teal, 10 Wigeon, 1 Pintail,

Landshipping;-
2 Greenshank.
(Paul G.)

Pen Anglas

3 Light-bellied Brent Geese west close inshore past Pen Anglas point at 13:00.

Whoopers

Info via e mail from Terry Gover - this afternoon at about 1300 3 Whooper Swans over flew Haverfordwest Airport Heading in a westerly direction.

Flagpoles 16.00 5th Nov.

In amongst the varying numbers of Herring , Black Headed , Common & Black Backed Gulls 2 1st W Med. Gulls & an Adult. A few Turnstones , Oycs & Curlews made up the wader count.

Whoopers

Following on from Rich's posting, at 710 I was just starting the car to go to work when I saw 4 swans flying fairly low to my right, more or less directly over Patch Community Centre. My thought process went from "Oooh, nice, Mute Swan, that's a house tick" to "****, they're not Mutes!" in a split second, and as fast as I can get my bins out of the boot (pretty fast) I just got enough on them as they headed roughly N/W over the eastern side of the upper racecourse to confirm they were Whoopers! After a quickly aborted attempt at running after them (not advisable in a suit in any case), I drove at a rate of knots to Portfield Gate and picked them up distantly with the 'scope heading towards Keeston-ish - N/W anyway. It seemed a pretty strong headwind, so maybe they might put down...Newgale Marsh perhaps? A great, and unexpected, house tick, following hot on the heels of Black Redstart!

Black Red's to Whoopers

Nr. Trefasser, Strumble,
2 Black Redstarts, & 2 Bramblings
(Rob Johns)

Haverfordwest, I'm sure more later from Dave, but 4 Whoopers flying NW over his house this am (0715)

Spoonbill -- Newport

The Spoonbill present nr the iron bridge c15:00
(Sam)
16:00 in awful weather, 1 Goldeneye still nr. the bridge, c23+ mixed Ringed Plover & Dunlin by the Boat Club.
Interesting gull roost on the mud before flying out to sea, 1 ad. Med Gull(un-ringed), & c15 Common Gulls of different ages amongst c400 Black-headed gulls.
Not a large gull in sight!!

Strumble -- today

08:48 -- 14:45;-
2 Pomarine Skuas (both juv, pale & dark), 2 Bonxie, 1 wp Black-throated Diver, 1 sp Great Northern Diver, 1w little Gull, 5 Manx Shearwaters, 34 Common Scoter, 1 Dunlin, & 3 Risso's Dolphins.
(Paul G. & Merv.)

Angle Area

I spent the day around the Angle area with an old birding friend from my days in Cardiff trying to find places out of the wind and dodging the showers. We did pretty well, starting off with a Swallow over Bosherston Ponds and 4 Black Redstarts still in residence at Stackpole Centre.
At The Lodge, Angle Bay, a Great Northern Diver gave great flight views and we also saw 5 Med Gulls (1 1st w., 1 2nd w. and 3 Ad), 1 Greenshank, 2 Barwits, c.200 Golden Plover and c.300 Lapwing.
We ended the day at Kilpaison with the tide coming in rapidly where there were 16 pale bellied Brents, 390 Wigeon, 32 Barwits, 25+ Ringed Plover, 50+ Dunlin, 1 ad Med Gull and a Peregrine. Rich C and Ian Smith.

Ramsey - Hummingbird Hawkmoth

A very late hummingbird hawkmoth was in the garden today! Only the 3rd record of the year, the other 2 in August. Bonxie at sea. No black redstarts today but 4 yesterday.

Black Redstarts -- Skomer

4 Around the buildings this am.
(Dave B.)

Newport -- waders

From the Parrog this evening;-
c97+ Curlew, 21 Ringed Plover, 1 Sanderling, 11 Dunlin.
(Karen)

Black Redstart at St Ishmaels

My wife described one perfectly, flitting around the rooftops, on & around our house. Been here 2 days apparently. (Monday & Tuesday)

Black Redstarts

Haverfordwest;-
1 on the roof of the Patch Community centre this am.(Paul G.)
1 on Dave Astin's roof in the gloom when he left for work this am.

St. Florence;-
1 on Rich C's drive early this am.

Otters still active and visible at Bosherston this afternoon (Rich C)

Pen Anglas

I saw a Black-throated Diver fly west past the point gaining height at 12:45.

Ramsey - Fulmars

Fulmars were back on their breeding ledges this morning for the first time post moult (last on land early Sept).

Skomer

No sign of the acro this morning, I'll try & have another look later though.


I've had quite a few comments from people - everyone seems pretty happy its a Marsh Warbler rather than an odd Reed Warbler & the photo below seems to clinch the wing formula, although there is a bit of blurring at the wing tip which makes it a bit more open to interpretation. Click on photo for larger image with annotations.



Thanks to everyone who's commented on this bird & if anyone else can add anything I'd be really keen to hear from them

Spoonbill &.... Newport

Spoonbill in the river channel c12:30 nr the white house.
Black Redstart on roofs along the Parrog.
(Wendy)
Green Sandpiper, 1 still above the iron bridge.
(Karen)

Newport Med Gull

Green AATL, at Newport on Oct 27 was ringed as a fledgling on Pionierinsel, an island in the Elbe est in Germany in June 06 in a small colony of Meds with a lot of Commons.
It was at the Axe est in Devon in Feb 07 & returned to Pionierinsel this Summer to breed before hot footing it here.

Strumble

0745 to 1530; Initially WNW backing W then S later, F5/6.
I was joined at various times by Peter from Maesteg, Wendy and Adrian. There was a strong and constant movement of Kittiwakes and Auks first thing, reducing to a steady trickle later.

Common Scoter 70, of which 4 were female
Pomerine Skua 2, both pale phase
Great Skua 3,
Long-tailed Skua 1
Black-throated Diver 1, winter plumage
Red-throated Diver 3, all winter plumage
Great-northern Diver 5, all summer plumage
Manx Shearwater 3
Fulmar 3
Mediterranean Gull 1, adult
Little Gull 1, adult
Arctic Tern 1
Comic Tern 1
White-fronted Geese 4
Eider 5, including 1 sub-adult, 3 ducks and a drake
Kestrel 1

Flagpoles 16.00 2nd Nov.

Horrible weather , 2 Adult Med Gulls , 1 1st W Med Gull , 4 Ringed Plover & at least 6 Turnstones.

late news -- Wryneck, Newport

Haven't read the article in this months Pembrokeshire Life, but I am told there is a photo of a Wryneck taken on 12th September published with some text ??

Otters & Black Redstarts

At my third attempt had some amazing views of the mother Otter and 2 cubs near the 8 Arch Bridge at Bosherston this morning. In view for 20 mins or so as they swam past, caught a fish and went onto the bank for a while. More photos in a gallery here.

Back in St Florence Black Redstarts back up to 3 around the house.

Skomer - unstreaked acro

I was walking down South Valley about 10ish this morning when a Blackcap flew up followed by a second bird that I thought was going to be a Garden Warbler, but it was an acro!

I watched it off & on, more off than on, for an hour or so & got quite a few not massively helpful photos & was leaning towards it being a Marsh Warbler.

Looking at the photos on the computer & doing some reading up I'm still not 100% sure, partly because its been suggested any very late acro isn't going to be a Marsh Warbler and partly because I'm not sure if the photos undisputably show the wing formula.

The vast majority of Marsh Warblers have the 2nd primary longer than the 4th - in the photos of this bird primary 2 looks about the same, possibly longer in one photo, possibly shorter in another depending on the angle - there is one photo of the closed wing slightly from underneath that possibly shows the 2nd primary clearly longer than the 4th, if the dark mark is the tip of the 2nd primary! So not sure on that.

If you draw a line across from where the emargination ends on the 3rd primary of a Marsh Warbler it should line up with tip of about the 7th primary, on Reed Warbler it should fall level with about the 10th primary - all the photos seem to show it being about the 7th or 8th primary depending on what angle you draw the line at. Bit happier about this feature.

Bill looks stout in most of the photos, more pointy in a couple - leaning towards Marsh on this. Obvious pale tips to the primaries? - apparently not a brilliant feature in the autumn, this bird has got pale tips but I'm not convinced anything above and beyond a Reed Warbler. The claws look very pro-Marsh to me, fairly plain, lacking obvious contrast between the dark upperside and yellowish underside.

I've seen quite a few 'interesting' looking autumn acros on the east coast that just looked and sounded like Reed Warblers to me but this bird never looked like a Reed Warbler & it was making a low 'chuck' call which isn't a call I would associate with a Reed Warbler.

I've got to do some work now but I'll hopefully be able to make the time to go and have another look - a Yellow Wagtail flew over calling while I was watching the acro.

Firecrest -- Teifi Marshes

A ringed Firecrest was seen with a Goldcrest along the Badger trail by the seat this am.
(Karen)

Skomer

2 Black Redstarts today, including a stunning male at the farm.

The Black Redstarts on here this autumn have all been very vocal - I don't remember ever hearing them call much before

6 Wigeon and a female Pintail flew past North Haven this morning and first thing yesterday morning 465 Chaffinches & 4 Bramblings went over

A late Wheatear...

A Wheatear at the Gann this late in the autumn had my pulse racing for a few seconds: I believe it is the same bird I've seen there since 18th October - quite a pale/buffy juvenile with broad white tips to the tail. Also there 10+ Rock Pipits (keep checking for Buff-bellied, or Water!), 1 pale-bellied Brent, a red-head Reb-breasted Merganser, pair of Goldeneye (first seen yesterday), 9 Redshanks & 19 Ringed Plover.

In Dale 3 Black Redstarts and 2 Chiffchaff, but no Black Reds seen on a brief search at Kete & St. Ann's (but 2 Lapwing sheltering behind a hedge in a ploughed field at Snailston).

2 Coal Tits out at the Fort at Point House were new in.

Tidying up today

Strumble;-
I forgot to record the flock of 10 Grey Plovers going west.
On the lanes to Strumble, in atrocious rain we flushed c80 Blackbirds, so a likely large fall if we could have followed them up!

Teifi;-
1 Common Sandpiper at Jewsons,
3 L.B.Brent Geese & 3 Bar-tailed Godwits roosting with the Oystercatchers & Curlew .
Teifi, yesterday;-
2 Red-breasted Mergansers flying around unsettled, 20 Ringed Plover on Patch, & Blackcap at St. Dogmaels Abbey.(Wendy)

I told a few of you that Dave Boyle had left Skomer on sat... he hasn't, just been speaking with him. He is on Skomer for the next 3 weeks but ... no more boats unless! (We will see.)

& Firecrests (yesterday)......&

nr Pwllcrochan, John H trapped 2 Firecrests whilst ringing at Braces. His 2nd & 3rd Firecrests of the autumn.
30+ Black-tailed Godwits tried to roost on the Pemb. U.M.Pond today, water too high now.
Castle Pond ,1 Common Sandpiper & Red-breasted Merganser yesterday.

Merganser

I saw a redhead Red-breasted Merganser fly west past Pen Anglas point at 13:30.

Black Redstarts head north

At least one Black Redstart at Moylegrove school this afternoon.
Newport from the boat club - 47 mixed Dunlin and Ringed Plover. 6 Redshank.
Iron Bridge - 1 Goldeneye upstream.

Ramsey - Seawatch

Brief 1 hour seawatch this afternoon 14:00-15:00

Sooty shearwater 1 (same bird as Strumble looking at timing?!)
Manx shearwater 2
Common scoter - 5 (2m 3f)
Gannet - 27
Kittiwake - 228/hr
Auk sp. (guillemot and razorbill) - 130/hr (1 guillemot in summer plumage)
Fulmar 2

Swallow

A late Swallow past the back of my house in St Florence this afternoon. Just 1 Black Redstart seen but hardly the weather for sitting on roof tops.

Strumble update

13:00--15:00;-
1 Sooty Shearwater, 1 Black Guillemot, 1 Bonxie, 1 Manx Shearwater & 16 Common Scoter.
(Paul G. & Merv.)

"Strictly..." Strumble

The birds 09:00 -- 13:00;-
1 Little Auk,(Adrian) 2 Sandwich Terns, 3 Bonxie, 7 Manx Shearwater, 5 Pochard (2 & 3), c38 Wigeon (c5+ small flocks), c10 Common Scoter, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, & 10 Risso's Dolphins.
(Adrian, Merv, Paul G. & Rich D.)

And for entertainment..... & difficult to believe, Adrian & Merv talked.... "Strictly" for 2 hours with passion !.... & frightening apparent knowledge!

Spoonbill -- Newport

14:00 today;-
Asleep above the iron bridge.

Ramsey Yesterday

4 black redstarts to add to yesterdays total - sorry for the delay! (at least 1 still here today) Also a juv hen harrier (untagged) has been around for a couple of days.

Total For Saturday

With a late update of 4 birds in total at Stackpole Centre (from Sue Lamb) and after some very complex arithmetical calculations I make that 59 Black Redstarts reported to the blog for Pembrokeshire yesterday. Wonder what they will do with this gale blowing?